2026 04 02
Hi everyone –
The books arrived in the printer’s colourful van yesterday!
Gail and I had three people from Sydney with us, to share in the excitement: my sister Rosemary and cousins Martin and Jenny Jaffe. Thanks, Rosemary, for the photos, and Martin for taking a video (from which I used a still).
Wishing those who are celebrating, Chag Pesach Sameach and Happy Easter.
Lots of love 🌹❤️
2026 04 15
Hi everyone –
After yesterday’s blood tests gave us the go-ahead, with good blood counts, I had my fourth monthly injection today.
The one missing part of the blood test report was the section on my tumour markers (which had vanished overnight, after briefly being included late yesterday afternoon).
When it has been reinstated, Garth will let me know what it says.
In other news:
It was good to have Rosemary visit us, her Cape Town family, briefly from Sydney – on her way to a solo trip in Europe. She landed up staying in Cape Town longer than intended, as she wasn’t well (I guess I can best describe what she had as gastric flu) for much of her time here. She rallied in time to be on her postponed flight. Bon voyage, Rosebud!
I’m currently busy with “all things book and launch”, and feeling so appreciative that I’m able to do this! If you haven’t received a confirmation of the launch from “the world of funky hats” yesterday or today, this means that – as far as I know – you’re not intending to be at the launch. If I have missed a written or verbal confirmation from you that you do intend to be there, please put me right ASAP!
Thank you.
For the people who intend to watch from afar: I’m waiting for the Zoom link to send you, hopefully very soon.
Lots of love 🌹❤️
2026 04 20
Greetings from cold and wet Cape Town (after a phase of glorious weather)!
I’m thrilled to let you know that the report on my tumour markers was eventually reinstated. The result is really good – even lower than last month! (For those who like numbers, the level is now 12.)
Lots of love 🌹❤️
2026 04 21
Hi everyone – I’ve just sent out the link to see my launch online.
If anyone wants it and hasn’t received it (via email or WhatsApp), please let me know. 🌹❤️
2026 04 26
2026 04 27
Wow.
I think I used up all my words yesterday – I’m not yet finding the words that are needed to express my appreciation of all that happened yesterday. But I’m going to give it a try.
It was fantastic to see everyone arriving yesterday, to greet as many people as possible (apologies to anyone I didn’t greet!), to experience the festive clothes and a few notably funky hats, to know that people had driven through pouring rain from near and far (including Somerset West) – and were still smiling – and to have our friend Anne from Durban with us for the weekend, specifically for my book launch.
People from all the overlapping parts of my life were there, in person or on Zoom. Family and ‘adoptive’ family; friends – from school, university, work, various organisations, circle dancing, other dancing; neighbours; doctors; also friends and family of friends!
To backtrack a little: when we started planning the launch, several people offered to help with various aspects of the logistics of the day. And help they did – above and beyond! Each person did so much to prepare before the day, and/or set up, and/or clear up afterwards, that it would take an essay just to describe their contributions, so I’m simply going to list them in alphabetical order: Anne, Gail, Gail B, Jonno, Nina, Odette, Tevya, Toni and Tricia. Thank you to all of you, from the bottom of my heart!
Anne, thank you for flying from Durban to stay with Gail and me, to help us, and to be part of it all. It was wonderful to have you here.
Odette, thank you for your thoughtful planning of our conversation and the way you facilitated it. I could not have asked for better!
How amazing to have Garth Davids, my mensch oncologist, at the launch! He was on call for the weekend, but we were blessed with nobody calling on him! He joined in some of the dancing and also managed to speak with several people. My integrative doctor, David Nye, was there with his wife, Sandi. They also joined in the dancing. It’s great to have doctors who are prepared to experience the things that give their patients joy!
Backtracking even further, the person who helped me birth the book, my editor Liz Mackenzie, was there. Liz and I have been friends since we met at high school, 55 years ago, and she has supported me throughout my cancer journey. I have always known her to be an excellent editor, and she was the only person I was prepared to have edit the book. She exceeded all my expectations – surfacing and helping me examine every layer of meaning, impact, thought and emotion. Thank you, Liz, for all of it.
We’ll soon have a link to the recording to send out, as well as an album of photos to access.
Thank you, thank you, thank you, to all of you!
Lots of love 🌹❤️
PS: About two hours after starting to write
this, I think we can now say that I found some words!
